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Hepatitis E strikes

4 September 2004

CASES of hepatitis E appear to have tripled in less than a month in the troubled Darfur region of Sudan. But it is unclear whether the hike is due to the virus thriving in contaminated water and food in refugee camps, or because of improved monitoring.

The World Health Organization reports 1788 cases of the disease up to 22 August, including 35 deaths, compared with 625 cases and 22 deaths in July. Pregnant women and newborn babies are particularly at risk. There is no vaccine or drug treatment.